Harris told Millwall players at half-time his ‘gut feel’ was that they were on way to win over Burnley

Millwall manager Neil Harris had a half-time feeling that his players would find a way to defeat Burnley today at The Den.

The Lions are up to seventh in the Championship – just two points behind West Bromwich Albion – after a third straight victory.

Millwall are unbeaten in five league matches and face Leeds, another of the promotion favourites, on Wednesday night.

Jake Cooper’s excellent first-half header from Femi Azeez’s cross looped over James Trafford early in the second half.

The Lions produced a textbook defensive display against the Clarets with Scott Parker’s side finishing with an xG of just 0.17.

Harris said: “Burnley made it very clear in the first two minutes how they wanted it to go – slow, keep the ball, try and frustrate us and the crowd. They were the better team for the first 20 minutes and then we just grew into the game.

“We finished the first half so strongly and I was disappointed not to be in front before the break.

“I said to the boys at half-time: ‘My gut feel as a Millwall manager – here at The Den – is that we had them’. We had the belief and committed an extra body forward when we attacked that we could find the openings.

“For 25 minutes in the second half we imposed ourselves so strongly – the 70th minute was the first time they had a touch in the penalty area.

“It is credit to the players (that Burnley were restricted to so little). You have to appreciate just how tactical and technical the game is now and there is a lot of video work and classroom stuff that goes into it.

“Then you translate that on to the pitch. The players, I’m sure, get bored of listening to me at times – message overload. But it is important they gain the knowledge. We knew Burnley would have the football but it was important where they had the ball. We controlled that really, really well.

“Once we grew into the game the more bodies we committed on to their backline, the tougher it was for them to defend.

“We were a little bit passive with the football in the first half, despite controlling the ball nicely at times. We went around the outside well but didn’t have that next action.

“We needed more forward movement, forward passes – and that bit of quality as well. The players took the messages on board quickly and that moment (when he was able to get on instructions on after an injury for one of the assistant referees) changed the game.

“You can’t underestimate the importance of Saville, Cooper and Leonard who know how to push the buttons of the fanbase and how to control a game of football at The Den. That is the importance of having senior Millwall figures.

“We’re disappointed we’re not higher up the league. We should have a lot more points than we have. We were poor at Swansea and won the game – other than that we have probably been better than every team we have played.

“The stats have shown it and we should be higher. We won’t bemoan that because we feel we’re a team heading in the right direction. We’ve conceded five goals in 11 games. We have not come across a Championship team so far that is better than us. We have got Leeds on Wednesday, then we go to Stoke and Sunderland after the international break – three more challenging games – but the culture and environment at the football club is mega. The training ground is an immense place to be.

“Open door policy for all academy staff to come in the building, watch us train and be around it. The players are flying at the moment and that is what we want as a football club.”

PICTURES: KEITH GILLARD